Reply to Mr Harris.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 183, 10 August 1901, Page 3

Reply to Mr Harris.

(To the Editor of the Times,)

Sir, —“ Frank Harris again cornered by Mr Stafford.” It is a pity that men undertaking to enlighten their fellow citizens on public matters should fail so signally to put matters in their true light, as Mr Frank Harris has done. The last occasion on which he sought to enlighten us upon this interesting subject (valuation) Mr Harris failed to discern the difference between a Whataupoko and a borough valuation notice. This time he says he has taken my advice and inspected the assessment rolls. Well, sir, if he has, all I can say is that he maae a terrible mess of the matter, and if his statement re the £9OOO is as reliable as his assertion as to the amount of property I own on Whataupoko it is absolutely valueless. Ido not now, nor have I ever owned two acres in that suburb ; so please withdraw your statement, Mr Harris, and thus own your mistake. I hope also, Mr Editor, that Mr Harris will have the courage to own his former error, and make amends to the public servants he so wronged. I must say, sir, that I do not like the principles of hitting a man who cannot hit back, and that is what F. Harris is doing in thus assailing the valuators.

Now, Sir, it is about eighteen months since the valuations on Whataupoko were made, and since that time many houses have been built (my own residence among them), so what was then a correct valuation is not so now. Take, for instance, what is known as The Point. Eighteen months ago it was a pig run, to-day a number of good dwellings are built on it. Are we to assail the Government valuator because the valuations of this particular place are not up to the mark '? Wait till the next valuations are made. Things will then be put right. I believe under the present law property has to be reassessed every two years, so it is quite plain to me that our local bodies cannot suffer any great wrong between these periodical valuations.—l am, etc., F. Stafford.